By: R. Cruz, Archivist of Obscure Nostalgia
A columnist for The Manila Times (July 12, 1987) wrote a humorous piece titled "How to Save a Dried Lumpia." The closing line was: "Kung uhaw ang lumpia mo, huwag mag-atubiling diligan ng suka. – 1987." diligin ng suka ang uhaw na lumpia -1987-
But why "water" a lumpia with vinegar?
Appended with the mysterious suffix "-1987-" , this keyword is not merely a recipe suggestion or a drunken kitchen mishap. It is a ghost of a specific moment in Philippine history. This article explores the three most plausible origins of this odd mantra: the Lost Indie Film theory, the Poet-on-a-Matchbox theory, and the Legendary Jeepney Graffiti of 1987. To understand the "thirsty lumpia," one must understand the year 1987. The Philippines was barely a year removed from the People Power Revolution (February 1986). The euphoria of toppling a dictator had given way to the messy, gritty reality of reconstruction. Appended with the mysterious suffix "-1987-" , this